Chris Froome surrendered the yellow jersey to Fabio Aru as Romain Bardet won stage 12 of the Tour de France in Peyragudes. Three-time Tour winner Froome faded badly on the brutal final climb of the 214.5km stage from Pau while Aru finished third to take the final bonus seconds on offer.The Italian national champion now leads the Tour by six seconds from Froome, with Frenchman Bardet closing to within 25 seconds of yellow in third place overall.

Fabio Aru has a big task ahead to battle Chris Froome for the yellow jersey in the Tour de France. And although he holds the race leader’s yellow jersey after nine stages , his lead over Aru is a Of course he will follow Fabio [ Aru ] or [third-placed Romain ] Bardet , or whoever is close to him in GC.”

Chris Froome finished third on a breathless stage nine to extend his overall lead in the Tour de France. Heading into the first rest day Froome leads the race by a still slender 18 seconds over Fabio Aru (Astana), with Bardet in third, now 51 seconds back.

Primoz Roglic won stage 17 of the Tour de France to Serre-Chevalier as Chris Froome finished third to retain the yellow jersey. Slovenian Roglic led by 90 seconds at the top of the Galibier and the former junior world ski jump champion showed no fear on the long fast descent to the finish to win by 73 seconds.Rigoberto Uran finished second to take six vital bonus seconds in the close battle for yellow, with Froome taking four for this third place by pipping Romain Bardet to the line.Three-time Tour winner Froome now leads by 27 seconds, with Colombian Uran and Frenchman Bardet tied for second place.

Romain Bardet (Ag2r La Mondiale), second overall at last year’s Tour and a legitimate contender Froome not only failed to take time on the first mountaintop finish of 2017, he lost time to Dan Martin and Fabio Aru . Preview: Everything you need to know about Stage 12 of the 2017 Tour de France.

The group of favourites came to the foot of the climb together, but after Aru struck out first, Froome struggled to respond.

Frenchman Bardet timed his attack to perfection, taking victory ahead of Aru and Colombian Rigoberto Uran, both two seconds back but picking up bonus seconds.

Froome finished a lowly seventh, 22 seconds behind Bardet.

Irishman Dan Martin was sixth, 13 seconds behind the winner while Simon Yates came home ninth in the best young riders' white jersey, but gave up 20 seconds to rival Louis Meintjes.

It is the second time in his career that Froome has lost the yellow jersey mid-race, having lost it after stage four in 2015.

Team Sky had held the yellow jersey since Geraint Thomas' time trial win in Dusseldorf on the opening day.

Froome began the day with an 18-second lead over Aru and 51-second advantage over Bardet, but the picture looks radically different ahead of Friday's short stage from Saint-Girons to Foix, which has the potential to change the shape of the race once again.

The fireworks in the fight for yellow came after Stephen Cummings fell short in a bid for a solo win on the 50th anniversary of Tom Simpson's death during the 1967 Tour.

Cummings had been part of a 12-man break which went away early on the stage, and he attacked solo on the climb of the Port de Bales, staying clear until midway up the Col de Peyresourde, caught with eight kilometres of the stage remaining.

Chris Froome: It's all still to race for in the Tour de France .
Chris Froome has backed himself to stay in the yellow jersey and gain more time in Saturday's time trial in Marseille despite conceding four seconds to Romain Bardet on the Col d'Izoard.Chris Froome has backed himself to stay in the yellow jersey and gain more time in Saturday's time trial in Marseille despite conceding four seconds to Romain Bardet on the Col d'Izoard.

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Fabio Aru has a big task ahead to battle Chris Froome for the yellow jersey in the Tour de France. And although he holds the race leader’s yellow jersey after nine stages , his lead over Aru is a Of course he will follow Fabio [ Aru ] or [third-placed Romain ] Bardet , or whoever is close to him in GC.”

Chris Froome finished third on a breathless stage nine to extend his overall lead in the Tour de France. Heading into the first rest day Froome leads the race by a still slender 18 seconds over Fabio Aru (Astana), with Bardet in third, now 51 seconds back.

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Romain Bardet (Ag2r La Mondiale), second overall at last year’s Tour and a legitimate contender Froome not only failed to take time on the first mountaintop finish of 2017, he lost time to Dan Martin and Fabio Aru . Preview: Everything you need to know about Stage 12 of the 2017 Tour de France.

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Froome will lose his lead before the second rest day. Eighteen seconds. That is all that currently separates Chris Froome from Fabio Aru . Before the second rest day, there are two mountain days – of which stage 12 is a summit finish – and a medium mountain stage . >>>

He now leads Fabio Aru by 18 seconds with Frenchman Romain Bardet third at 51 seconds. “I’m very, very happy with that and still in yellow, but it was really hard today,” said Froome . “There was a moment in Bardet ’s attack when I thought he’d go all the way and maybe take the race lead .

Cycling: Cracks appear in Sky's armour but Froome still in control - m.economictimes.com

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Great Britain's Chris Froome rides during the ninth stage of the Tour de France on July 9, 2017. It meant it was a bitter-sweet day for Froome who, despite increasing his lead and seeing several top rivals lose time He now leads Fabio Aru by 18sec with Frenchman Romain Bardet third at 51sec.

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